I must say that this has been the most challenging week for me in the area of faith, specifically to finances. Many may assume that I would be full of faith because I am an ordained minister, but I want to be real and confess to a struggle that many in my position would try to hide.
Balancing God’s provision with my ability to provide has been an issue, and I think most men struggle with this. We, as men, feel like our success is based upon how much money we make. If we aren’t making enough to provide a certain lifestyle for our family, then we feel like a failure. Many men work more, only to sacrifice their family. I only have one chance with my family.
We naturally lean toward looking at the circumstances of life and computing things outside of God’s perspective. When we should be exercising faith, we are inclined to doubt in the face of massive debt.
I found myself overwhelmed by owing the IRS, finally having to pay back an enormous amount on student loans, and then my AC goes out on my car (which could be, and I pray is, a minor problem). I look at all this and beat myself up for some of it and regret allowing certain people to influence poor financial decisions.
When it comes down to it, I could have all of life’s possessions taken from me. If that ever happened, I would still possess the most valuable thing of all – a relationship with my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. George Beverly Shea wrote the words, “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold. I’d rather be His than have riches untold. I’d rather Jesus than worldwide fame. I’d rather be true to His holy name than to be the king of a vast domain and be held in sin’s dread sway. I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.”
If all you have is stripped away from you, will Jesus be enough?
Matthew Winters (Honest Thoughts from a Pastor) 
Had I known Jesus back when this question/statement was true..back in 2001 I packed myself and 2 kids with only clothes on our backs and $20..I would say yes. So if I knew Him then and would say yes..I would say yes today. I’d like to hope I’d be strong in my faith and say yes!
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
It is true authenticity that we need more of, for that is what Jesus himself demonstrated. Keep it real. We all have struggles.👍
Thank you for sharing your struggles. I have had this struggle for a long time and as a single mother, it has been a “real struggle.” But God has shown me over and over that he is my provider, Jehovah Jireh. I am still in the mist of the struggle being my age and finding work that pays the bill. I have made some dumb financial choices as well and take full ownership for those choices. I’ve been waiting on my income tax and it seems like everything needs to be fixed on my car. However, it is respecting the process in this journey I’m on. Know that you are not alone and although men feel the pressure financially, women (especially single mothers) feel it as well.
As a single mom, I totally understand your struggles. And as a Christian, I also understand that God wants us to “die to self” so that nothing in this world bothers us and that we will totally trust Him to provide… but it is not easy and usually not a choice we will freely make. Sometimes it is only during these struggles and our desperation that we learn the lesson that God wants to teach us. And that is the exact path that I am on… trying to die to self and trust Him beyond human comprehension.
Loved your honesty and will be reblogging this excellent ‘food for thought’. Thanks for being brave enough to share.
Reblogged this on Life is for Living and commented:
Can you relate to this post? Would you have been just as brave to share so honestly?
Our God is able (thankfully and mercifully so). We may lose every material possession but He will never be lost.
Right on bro-
I hear you loud and clear. 5 years ago in the middle of my social work projects I was hit with a bone disease and needed immediate hip replacement. I have a wife and 5 kids and knew I could not be out long so they said 6 months. Well, that hip fell out of my body before i could get rehabbed.
Long story short, that was 2011- I just had my 6th hip surgery 6 months ago. No work., House gone, Cars gone, Money gone,, Kids split with no place for us all.
You are right to draw your peace from the Lord. Money comes and goes, friends come and go, health comes and goes, but He is the same yesterday today and forever…Amen
On the faith deal in general, you know better then us all that we cannot get excited and work that up,,Only by the Word and the renewing of our minds. Faith, comes from what? Hearing the Word. I have tried to get it many othrer ways-lol doesnt work like the word of God…
Peace-
Tj
It sounds like your faith has been tested and tried with the devil hoping to knock you out for the count. Praise God that you know your help cometh from the Lord! The Word of God is what feeds and builds our faith.
Yes. I have.Me and my family have been the target of many seroohs attacks that have really left me depleted.